Peter de GraafClass action has been filed against national grid operator Transpower and its maintenance contractor Omexom over the toppling of a power pylon in mid-2024 that cut power to the entire Northland region.The legal action is being taken on behalf of the roughly 20,000 businesses affected by the outage and, if successful, could end up costing the two companies millions of dollars.Hannah Brown, a partner in Sydney-based law firm Piper Alderman, said no specific sum was mentioned in the legal papers filed late on Wednesday - but an estimate last June by economic consultants Infometrics put the cost to businesses at $60 million while the Northland Chamber of Commerce gave a figure of $80m.A report last year by Transpower found the pylon at Glorit, northwest of Auckland, fell over on 20 June last year when contractors removed the nuts from at least two of its legs at once.Transpower staff working at dawn to install a temporary tower after a pylon collapse cut power to most of Northland in June 2024. Photo: TranspowerBrown said a subsequent review by the Electricity Authority concluded the collapse was caused by "entirely avoidable" factors including inadequate procedures and training."This wasn't just another power outage or an accidental or unforeseeable event like a weather event or a storm. It was something that was completely avoidable, and for that reason, we think those responsible should be held to account, and if they aren't, that just breeds a sense of complacency in the future."The power cut affected about 180,000 people.Most homes had power restored within seven hours but some large businesses, such as timber mills and dairy plants, lost more than three days' worth of production while restaurants had to throw away spoiled food.After pressure from Northland MP Grant McCallum and the local Chamber of Commerce, Transpower and Omexom each contributed $500,000 to a "resilience fund" for projects designed to lift the region's economy.However, Brown said that amount was "completely disproportionate and insufficient" given the actual losses suffered by Northland businesses.Along with Piper Alderman, the class action was being run by New Zealand law firm LeeSalmonLong and bankrolled by litigation funder Omni Bridgeway.Brown said it was intended to be an "opt-out" lawsuit, which meant all affected businesses would be included unless they chose not to take part.There was no cost to businesses taking part, but if the "no win, no pay" class action was successful, the funder would take a commission.Without class action, Brown said it was hard for individual businesses to take on the might and resources of a state-owned enterprise like Transpower or a large multinational such as Omexom.Omexom's France-based parent company, VINCI Group, declared net income of just under $10 billion last year."This is about giving businesses access to justice and an opportunity to group together to fight for compensation," she said.Class actions have been rare in New Zealand, and reputedly hard to win, in the past.However, Brown said that was changing thanks to recent reforms making class actions more accessible.Successful cases, such as the ASB's settlement in a banking class action over disclosure breaches, showed the legal landscape was evolving.She said the law firms were confident they had a strong case, much of which was built on Transpower and Electricity Authority reports."We wouldn't be pursuing this if we didn't believe it had strong prospects," she said.Northland businesses affected by the outage would be invited to register and provide information about their losses.Some were already on board but now that the class action had been filed, it would be much easier to engage openly with affected businesses across Northland.If the class action was successful, Brown said compensation would be distributed among those businesses in proportion to their losses.A Transpower spokesman confirmed legal papers had been served on the company late on Wednesday, but would not comment given that the matter was before the courts.Omexom could not be contacted.This story was originally published by RNZ

Just in time for the busy summer season, Hato Hone St John has introduced paid ambulance staff in Mangawhai, marking a significant enhancement to its emergency response capability in the Kaipara District.From 24 November, two paramedics and two emergency medical assistants (EMAs) will begin duty from the town’s ambulance station, crewing an ambulance between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week. The existing team of dedicated volunteers will continue to staff the first response unit (FRU) overnight, from 8pm to 8am, as well as providing an additional resource during the day when available.A new ambulance, donated by the estate of a local resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, has also begun service in the town.A special ceremony was held at Mangawhai station on Monday morning (24 November) to celebrate and welcome the new staff.The development is driven by substantial population growth in Mangawhai and rising demand for ambulance services. Adding paid staff along with a transporting ambulance is expected to improve both response times and patient outcomes in the township and neighbouring communities.Hato Hone St John Area Operations Manager - Rodney, Travis Slattery, says the organisation has been working closely with key stakeholders for some time to secure funding for the new positions.“Currently, our ambulance service in Mangawhai relies on a highly valued group of volunteers. These new paid roles will help ensure coverage during peak times - especially when many of our volunteers are at work or have limited availability.”Data from similar resourcing increases by Hato Hone St John demonstrate clear benefits for the community, including faster response times, improved cardiac arrest survival rates, and overall better patient outcomes.“By staggering shift times across Mangawhai and neighbouring stations, we also expect to strengthen resilience across North Rodney, while reducing workload and overtime for a broader group of staff.“Our volunteers will continue to play a vital role and will have the opportunity to work alongside paramedics who will help enhance their learning and development. Introducing full-time paid staff will not only reduce volunteer workload but also support their personal growth and preserve the strong sense of community service that defines our volunteers,” Mr Slattery says.Mangawhai currently boasts 30 passionate and dedicated volunteers.Hato Hone St John deeply appreciates the longstanding support of Mangawhai residents, which has been pivotal to the latest development.“The Mangawhai community has shown unwavering support over the years, playing a vital role in fundraising for essential equipment, vehicles, and the Mangawhai ambulance station, as well as through strong patronage of our local retail store,” Mr Slattery says.

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Consumers are being warned to assume imported products including kids play things are not being tested and its best to avoid anything that could be contaminated or faulty.An asbestos scare has prompted a recall of several brands of children coloured play sand.It expanded yesterday with two more products added; Rainbow Sand Art Toy, approximately 800 units have been sold at various discount stores nationwide, and sand craft.Some of the coloured sands are laced with tremolite asbestos.That is despite it being illegal to import any product containing asbestos.University of Auckland law professor Alex Sims said shoppers should not assume the law is being followed."We've just seen it with the with the coloured sand, but I think to be honest, it's not sort of a product that people naturally thought would have asbestos in it."Sims told Checkpoint it is up to retailers and importers to do checks on products, but that doesn't mean it is always being done."There's a whole lot of laws that cover kids toys.... and if you're importing product it can't have asbestos in it.""There's lots and lots of laws, but it is up to the people selling it and importing it to make sure that the law is being followed."She said products having safety issues is not uncommon and has happened in the past, but often consumers don't hear about it."What often happens is something happens... where some poor child almost dies and then they look into it, and then the prosecutions happens, but this after the fact.""One thing that could happen is the Commerce Commission and other people could do spot checks to see that the products are actually meeting specifications, but there's so many that it might be impossible to do."If parents wanted to be reimbursed the cost of asbestos testing or any clean up, Sims said the responsibility lies on the retailer, which is in many cases Kmart."Under the Consumer Guarantees Act if a good is not safe, and if it's contaminated with asbestos it's not safe, then yes [you are entitled to] a refund of the money, but also the cost of the testing the cost of cleaning,""If the colour sand is all through a carpet and it can't be cleaned properly then the cost of replacing that carpet as well."Despite this, Sims said she would be surprised if this would occur."The only real way at the moment is for someone to go to the disputes tribunal."Schools are also covered under the consumer guarantees act, said Sims.Despite the laws in place, she said it was ultimately down to buyers to be aware of what they are purchasing."Unfortunately the laws don't work...yes, we've got laws, but then as we've seen here, they're not protecting anybody, so it is buyer beware."With Christmas around the corner, Sims said for now it might be safest to stick to simpler and more traditional toys, such as wooden items without paint on them.MBIE product safety spokesman Ian Caplin said the Ministry is working retailers of children's sand products to understand supply chains and determine the origin of the sand.The Ministry said it is the retailer's responsibility to sell a safe product, and the importation of a product containing asbestos is not allowed without a permit.Kmart did not respond to a request for an interview about its sand products.This story was originally published by RNZ

We are starting work on the road renewal on Mahurangi East Road, this Wednesday 26 November. The northbound lane will be closed between Amanda Lane and Kauri Crescent. A detour will be in place, see the picture below for details. The southbound lane will remain open with speed restrictions.Businesses will remain open with access available.We will be working between 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, and Saturdays as required. We expect to work overnight (8pm to 5am) on Sunday 14 December, weather dependent.This stage of works is expected to take about 3 weeks (weather dependent) and then we will pause works for the busy holiday period and return once traffic volumes have reduced in 2026, for a further 10 weeks.We will be rebuilding the pavement of the road, which involves excavation, concrete works and asphalting. We will work in stages to allow traffic access to shops and side streets.

The family of Te Anihana Pomana has criticised police for announcing they found a body before formal identification.Te Anihana Pomana, also known as Ani Anderson, went missing August 21, after leaving Sky City hotel in the early hours of the morning.On Monday police announced a body they believed to be Pomana was found on Saturday in dense bush in the Pukekohe area.In a post on social media, whānau criticised the release going out."The media releases were done without official confirmation with formal identification, whānau hadn't got the chance to inform many close to Te Anihana. Apologies to anyone that has had to read and find this information out in this manner," the post said.What did the release say?In a media release on Monday, police said they were making enquiries after a body was found in the search for Te Anihana Pomana on Saturday."At around 7.43pm police were notified a body was located in dense bush in the Pukekohe area," the release said."Formal identification is yet to take place; however it is believed to be the body of Te Anihana."Police said an investigation into the circumstances of the death were underway and a post mortem was expected to be carried out in due course."Her family have been notified of this development and are being provided support."Police have been approached for further comment.

Warkworth / Rodney RegionMonday 24th November - Fine apart from some morning cloud. Southwesterlies dying out this afternoon.Tuesday 25th November - Mainly fine, isolated showers developing in the afternoon. Easterlies, becoming strong for a time in the afternoon.Wednesday 26th November - Fine. Isolated showers clearing in the morning. Northeasterlies.Thursday 27th November - Partly cloudy, with isolated showers clearing. Northwesterlies, easing.Friday 28th November -Showers developing. Northwesterlies.Saturday 29th November - Showers. Southwesterlies.Sunday 30th November - Showers with northwesterlies.Mangawhai / Northland RegionMonday 24th November - Fine. Southeasterlies for a time in the afternoon.Tuesday 25th November - Mainly fine, chance of a shower from morning. Easterlies developing before dawnWednesday 26th November - Mainly fine, but a few showers in the afternoon. Northeasterlies, easing in the afternoon.Thursday 27th November - Partly cloudy, with a few showers in the afternoon. Light winds.Friday 28th November -Showers developing. Northwesterlies, easing.Saturday 29th November - Showers. Westerlies.Sunday 30th November - A few showers with light winds.

Air New Zealand has collected a remarkable suite of international awards for 2025, including being named the world’s safest airline by AirlineRatings.com. The airline also secured the title of Best Airline in the South Pacific from APEX, while the World Travel Awards recognised it as both Oceania’s Leading Airline and Oceania’s Leading Airline Brand.Innovation also drew praise, with Forbes Travel Guide awarding Air New Zealand its Innovation of the Year for the airline’s Skycouch seating. The carrier performed strongly in USA TODAY’s 10 BEST Awards, placing second for Best Airline, Best Cabin Crew and Best Airline Food, and coming third for Business Class and Inflight Entertainment.AirlineRatings.com further ranked the airline as the third best in the world overall. In Australia, Air New Zealand was named the country’s most trusted airline in the Finder Awards, while its frequent flyer programme was recognised for exceptional value. Sustainability leadership was also acknowledged, with the airline receiving the Asia Pacific CAPA Environmental Sustainability Award of the Year for 2025.Chief customer and digital officer Jeremy O’Brien said the recognition reflects the skill, dedication and creativity of the airline’s people.“It’s fantastic to see Air New Zealand recognised alongside some of the biggest and best carriers in the world. It speaks to where we come from as a nation, and to our people on the ground and in the air who work tirelessly to create a genuinely Kiwi experience.“These awards belong to our team, and to our customers who continue to support what we do. Their commitment ensures our care and manaaki shine through, and it’s clearly making an impression on the global stage."Beyond its aviation achievements, Air New Zealand was again named New Zealand’s Most Attractive Employer by recruitment agency Randstad — the third consecutive year it has held the title.O’Brien said the awards serve both as recognition and motivation. “We’ll continue to innovate, evolve and showcase the best of New Zealand to the world,” he said.The accolades come at a challenging moment for the airline, with cabin crew preparing for a December strike after months of unsuccessful negotiations over pay and conditions.

Feral cats will now be officially added to the Predator Free 2050 eradication list, marking a significant shift in government policy. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced the change, describing feral cats as “stone cold killers” responsible for widespread harm to native wildlife, including birds, bats, lizards, frogs and large insects such as wētā.Conservation Minister Tama PotakaThe decision follows public scrutiny after it emerged that, despite a 2023 campaign promise, feral cats had not been included in earlier government proposals. A recent discussion document even suggested they should remain excluded, citing concerns about feasibility. However, public submissions overwhelmingly called for their inclusion, prompting what amounts to a notable U-turn.Why the Change MattersThis is the first time since 2016 when Predator Free 2050 was launched that a new species has been added to the target list. Feral cats are estimated to number in the millions across the country and are considered apex predators that have driven or contributed to the extinction of several native species.Potaka said adding them to the programme is essential for restoring biodiversity and safeguarding unique landscapes. Conservation groups, including the Predator Free New Zealand Trust, have strongly welcomed the announcement, saying it aligns with shifting public views and long-standing ecological concerns.How Eradication Might WorkIncluding feral cats on the list is expected to accelerate research and development of new control tools. Current possibilities include poison-laced bait sausages and “spit” technologies that deliver toxins directly to the animal. Potaka also noted that scientists are exploring future genetic solutions, though these remain some years away.Funding arrangements have not been detailed, but the International Visitor Levy is already contributing toward predator control. Some predator-free responsibilities have recently shifted to the Department of Conservation after Predator Free 2050 Ltd was wound down to reduce costs.Implications for Pet OwnersOnly wild, self-sustaining cats are targeted under the new policy. However, including feral cats in the national predator strategy could drive wider conversations about pet cat management. Measures such as compulsory microchipping or registration may be considered to ensure domestic cats are not caught up in eradication work.A members’ bill proposing mandatory identification for companion cats is already in the ballot, with some cross-party interest.Potaka, who owns two rescue cats, says responsible ownership is key and that distinguishing between pets and feral animals will remain central to the policy. He emphasised that well-cared-for domestic cats are not the focus of Predator Free 2050.

The Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana is facing well-documented ecological decline, prompting the Government to introduce a suite of new protected areas under the Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Act 2025. The reforms promise some of the most substantial marine protections in New Zealand’s recent history. Yet, within the network of new high protection areas, exceptions allowing certain commercial fishing activities have drawn criticism and confusion from conservation groups and the public.While most of the newly designated zones prohibit both recreational and commercial fishing, two high protection areas, around Rangitoto–Motutapu and Kawau Island, permit limited commercial ring-netting under specific conditions. The allowance has raised questions about the integrity of the protection measures and the political negotiations underpinning the legislation.Ben Chissell, organiser of the One Ocean Protest in Auckland this morning, fishing on the Hauraki Gulf, with his family. Photo: suppliedUnder the Act, high protection areas are intended to function as no-take zones, safeguarding depleted habitats and enabling depleted fish populations to recover. However, the Government has retained commercial access for a small number of operators who previously fished in these areas between 2021 and 2023.Officials maintain the exemption is tightly controlled and applies only to ring-netting for kahawai, trevally, and grey mullet during restricted months. They argue the environmental impact of this activity is minimal, citing the limited number of vessels involved and the comparatively low commercial yield.Conservation organisations dispute this reasoning, saying any commercial extraction from a high protection area undermines the purpose of the designation. They warn that allowing fishing in even a portion of these zones weakens the overall protection framework and risks setting a precedent for further concessions.The Rationale Behind the ExemptionsPreserving existing rightsThe exemptions apply solely to operators with established fishing histories in the affected areas. Officials say removing their access entirely would have significant economic consequences for a small group of commercial fishers.Claims of limited ecological impactRing-netting is considered less damaging than trawling or dredging, methods long criticised for destroying seabed habitats. The Government argues the continuation of ring-netting poses little threat to the broader recovery goals for the gulf.Political compromiseBehind the scenes, the allowances appear to reflect the political reality of securing support for the package. Negotiations with industry groups and coalition partners reportedly influenced the design of the final protections.Potential for future adjustmentThe Government has indicated the exemptions may be revisited as part of the ongoing “Revitalising the Gulf” strategy, though no commitment has been made regarding their removal.Concerns from Environmental and Community GroupsOpponents argue the exemptions dilute the definition of high protection areas and compromise the gulf’s recovery. They point to longstanding pressures, including sedimentation, pollution, and historical overfishing, and warn that any continued extraction slows ecological restoration efforts.Critics also note that the new protections do not address destructive bottom-trawling in several parts of the gulf, which they say remains one of the most significant threats to marine life and seafloor habitats. Community groups and recreational fishers have likewise expressed frustration, saying the rules appear uneven; many recreational activities are banned outright, while certain commercial activities continue under carve-outs.A Step Forward — But Not Without ContentionThe new protection network is widely viewed as a milestone for the gulf, which has suffered decades of cumulative environmental stress. Yet the commercial exemptions continue to attract scrutiny, reflecting the tension between ecological objectives and the political and economic realities of resource management. As monitoring of the protected areas begins, pressure is likely to increase on policymakers to justify the carve-outs, or eventually phase them out entirely, to align the protections more closely with conservation expectations and international marine protection standards.

After years of community mahi, generosity and sheer determination, the Coastal Trail has reached another major milestone — the long-awaited section linking Point Wells to Matakana is now complete.This Sunday, 23 November 2025, the public is invited to celebrate the official opening of the new trail with a community event at Matakana Country Park. The Coastal Trail team is encouraging everyone to arrive by bike or on foot and be part of the first community ride (or walk) along the new pathway.A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 10.30am, followed by a relaxed morning of festivities. Attendees can expect live music, food, face painting, and spot prizes for the best-dressed riders — so dressing up yourself, your bike or your helmet is very much encouraged.This newest section of trail has been years in the making, driven by locals and built for locals. It represents another step in opening up safe, scenic, and accessible connections across the region.Planning is already underway for the next leg of the project, which will take the trail from Matakana Village through to Sharp Road — another important link in the Coastal Trail network.Event details can be found here:https://matakanacoastapp.com/Event/celebrate-the-point-wells-cycle-trail-opening/6722dd7e1bef25002e4fa577#top

The tragic fire in the Manawatū town of Sanson has left New Zealand grieving alongside a mother whose pain is beyond imagining. Chelsey Field has lost her three precious children — August, Hugo and Goldie — in a blaze that police believe, though have not yet confirmed, was a murder–suicide carried out by their father. It is a truth almost too heavy to comprehend.Chelsey has spoken of her children as her entire world — bright, loving little souls who filled her days with joy, routines, playgroups, beach trips and sibling mischief. In that same fire, she also lost her home, her beloved dog Marlo, and the ashes of her stillborn daughter, Iris. The depth of this loss is devastating.Although this tragedy is outside our region, its enormity reaches far beyond local boundaries. It feels impossible to witness such loss and not try, in some small way, to help. A Givealittle page has been created by friends to support Chelsey through the long, painful road ahead, and has already raised more than $350,000: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/a-mothers-worst-nightmare-grieving-the-lossEven a small contribution can help ease a fraction of her burden — if everyone chipped in just $10, the collective impact would make a meaningful difference.Readers who wish to understand more about the investigation can find further details here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/579116/watch-police-discuss-murder-suicide-of-three-children-and-father-in-sanson-fireChelsey, her family and her beautiful children are in our thoughts and prayers at this time, wrapped in the aroha of communities across Aotearoa. RIP little ones.

** Please note - This is the abridged version

Have you entered your business float into the Warkworth Santa Parade yet? Do it now! It's gonna be HUGE. Visit onemahurangi.co.nz/wwsantaparade2025/Santa’s Coming to Town — and So Is a Busy SummerI always know we’re nearing the end of the year when the Santa Parade date starts to loom large, and 13 December is coming up fast.Last year’s parade had 40 entries and some truly spectacular floats. Many included more than one vehicle, and we couldn’t have fitted in another without gridlocking the town centre. This year, with Wellsford unable to hold their own parade and invited to join ours, spaces will fill quickly. If you haven’t registered yet, please get in early: Download the Santa Parade Registration Form and Information ›It’s always a wonderful day, and seeing the joy on the children’s faces as Santa and Mrs Claus arrive makes all the organising worthwhile. Santa and Mrs Claus will also travel through the streets of Warkworth on 15 December and Snells Beach on 17 December from 6 pm. You can check the route on our website and keep an eye out for the “chubby Elf” who might toss you a lolly or two.In this issue, you’ll meet the new One Mahurangi Committee. It’s a great mix of familiar faces and new members who will help guide our Business Association through what promises to be an interesting and positive year ahead.Since announcing my retirement from One Mahurangi in March 2026, I’ve been touched by the many kind messages and conversations from around town. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share your thoughts and good wishes. I have appreciated every one of them.I know there has been frustration about Auckland Council’s timing for the maintenance work on the Neville Street carpark, especially as our retailers enter their busiest time of year. We asked if the work could be delayed until March, but unfortunately the contracts were already set. Council has since opened the Baxter Street reserve for parking, which should help a little, and Auckland Transport has indicated they will work with Council to reduce the impact as much as possible.As always, remember that our local businesses rely on you, just as you rely on them.Support local, buy local, employ local, and love local.— Murray ChapmanManager, One Mahurangi, Warkworth Business [email protected] | 0274 966 550// Introducing the 2025/2026 One Mahurangi, Warkworth Business Association CommitteeTo read more about our wonderful 2025/2026 OMBA committee members, visit our website > onemahurangi.co.nz/one-mahurangi-our-peopleREMINDER: All 2025 OMBA AGM documentation, including Governance Report, Manager's Report, and Minutes, is published on our website > onemahurangi.co.nz/agm2025/.REMINDER: Temporary Carpark Closure – Neville StreetAuckland Council will be carrying out maintenance on the Neville Street carpark from 10 November for around one to two weeks.We know this is a busy time for local retailers, so we’ve been working with Council and Auckland Transport to help reduce the impact.Good news, the Council will open up the Baxter Street Reserve beside the skate ramp for free parking during the closure.Thanks to the Council for listening to our local businesses and helping keep Warkworth moving. Read the full press release HERE>To read the latest update from Watercare on the recent Warkworth overflow, CLICK HERE>To read the Press Release from Watercare on the recent Warkworth overflow, CLICK HERE>Warkworth Information CentreVisit Warkworth and Explore Mahurangi!📍 Local gems, events & attractions🗺️ Visitor info & travel tips!1 Baxter Street | Open weekdays 10AM -4PMFollow @visitwarkworth on Instagram// Community Noticeboard // For the full newsletter head HERE

A logging truck struck the front of Lime Tree Café, located at 172 Rodney Street, Wellsford 0900, in the early hours of Monday and left the scene without making contact.CCTV footage shows the truck pulling up outside the café around 4.10 am before visiting the nearby Mobil service station. Approximately 4.25 am, the vehicle appears to collide with the shopfront, visibly shudder, reverse to extricate itself and then drive off.No injuries were reported, though the café exterior sustained damage. The owners report they have not heard from the driver or his company and are gathering additional footage from surrounding businesses and service stations. They are calling for any witnesses or dash-cam footage from Wellsford between 4 am and 4.30 am on Monday to come forward. The café can be reached at 027 478 9803.Once all footage is collected, the café intends to report the incident to Police and its insurance provider.

AUCKLAND AND NORTHLANDHeavy Rain WatchPeriod: 24hrs from 2pm Tue, 18 Nov - 2pm Wed, 19 NovArea: Northland east of Kerikeri and Dargaville, Auckland and Great Barrier IslandForecast: Periods of heavy rain with localised downpours possible. Isolated areas may exceed warning criteria, especially in downpours. High chance of upgrading to a Warning.Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously. Preparedness advice.

The search for a missing fisherman off the coast of Pataua South will scaled back, as searching moves into a new phase four days on from the alarm being raised.Police, including the National Dive Squad, Search and Rescue crews and the Royal New Zealand Navy spent yesterday searching a large area of sea and shoreline in the hope of locating the man’s body.Today, the search will be scaled back to give searchers a chance to rest and consider next steps in the process.Detective Sergeant Paul Overton, Northland Police Search and Rescue Team Leader, says Auckland Coastguard Air Patrol attended this morning as part of the aerial search.“We have extensively searched a vast area since we were first alerted on Friday night, in the hope of bringing the missing man home to his family.“Our search has by no means stopped, but today we will scale back and consider what other options are available to us.“There will still be a daily reconnaissance search of the shoreline in the hope that the changing currents, speed and water pressure will assist in the recovery of the missing man.”Several agencies and volunteers have been involved so far, including the Police Eagle helicopter, Land Search and Rescue, Coastguard Tūtūkākā and Coastguard Whangārei.Detective Sergeant Overton says Police appreciate the many offers of help and supportive messages that have been received from members of the public and those wishing to help.“It’s been a really challenging time for everyone involved and we are grateful to each and every person who has assisted us during the past few days.”The man was one of two people onboard a 17-foot runabout that was reported overdue on Friday night.The body of the second person was located on Saturday morning along with the boat.Police continue to ask the public to contact us on 111 if you see anything unusual in the water.

SH1 over Brynderwyn Hills is now fully open and ready for summer travel, ahead of schedule.All resurfacing work is complete, passing lanes are reinstated, and the 80km/h speed limit has been restored – making journeys to and from Northland smoother.Travel safely – the new asphalt surface can be slippery when wet as it wears in, so take extra care.Despite some heavy rain early in the closure, our teams worked day and night with a finely tuned programme to keep everything on track so the road could reopen as quickly as possible.This marks the completion of the recovery project, and the second planned super weekend closure from 20–23 November is no longer needed.Road resurfacing work for the completion of the SH1 Brynderwyn Hills recovery project and maintenance included:160 people on the ground4,500 hours worked over four days3,800 tonnes of asphalt applied115 round trips in total to get the asphalt to site. That is nearly 28,000km travelled just to get the asphalt to site!To make the most of the full closure, 9 different crews also completed maintenance tasks that normally require manual traffic control. This means extra travel delays have also been avoided this summer. This work involved vegetation control, removing litter, drainage maintenance, guardrail repairs, wire rope repairs, retaining wall inspections and sign replacements and cleaning. More than 100 maintenance dispatches were completed.A huge thank you to everyone involved and to all road users for your patience while we completed these critical works. https://nzta-brynderwynhillsrecoveryandenablingworkserd.cmail20.com/t/t-l-gujiie-thdkhrihki-j/

Ross McNaughton,In the more than four years since exotic caulerpa was first discovered in New Zealand waters, it has been a time of uncertainty and frustration for some living in affected areas.Caulerpa is an algae that blankets the sea floor, smothering everything from kelp to shell fish.Nicola MacDonald is chief executive of the Ngati Manuhiri settlement trust. The iwi's territory includes Kawau island and Little Barrier Island, two of the 11 areas where the seaweed pest is present."When caulerpa first got here, government really struggled with how to address caulerpa and take real proactive action, and we saw what happened at Great Barrier Island. It went from 60 hectares to now it's well and truly over 2000 hectares. So that's an absolute indication of how we take it seriously. And government isn't taking it as seriously as they need to."Ngati Manuhiri recently produced a short film highlighting the concerns of iwi from the Hauraki gulf and Coromandel to the Bay of Islands."We certainly don't want to leave the Hauraki Gulf in a much worse state for our mokopuna, our grandchildren and our children that inherit from us. So for all of those iwi that have been battling the invasive species such as caulerpa, that has been the single uniting moment"A national caulerpa strategy was recently sent to Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard."My understanding is that he was taking it through to Cabinet and there may be further budget, well there will have to be, further budget in order to deliver on those milestones that the strategy recommends," said MacDonald.MPI director of readiness and response John Walsh said $25 million was spent before this year on the fight against caulerpa."I think we're actually in quite a good place through some good planning and some good management and also some good luck."The good luck came in the form of significant caulerpa dieback in some of the sites that NIWA monitors - including Great Barrier island and Omakiwi cove in the Bay of Islands.But he said there had been no consistent pattern to why caulerpa had retreated in some of the sites. "It's a bit of a mystery, we'll still be continuing to examine it this year."There was also no guarantee the dieback will continue."This summer will be very telling," Walsh said. "The waters are starting to warm up already. Warm waters mean more growth, unfortunately."Chlorine, UV-C light technologies trialledNew technologies are being developed in the fight against caulerpa.Brook McRae runs Commercial Dive Specialists and has a background in biosecurity. His company expanded on an technique where mats treated with chlorine were used to kill caulerpa.They did away with the mats, creating a submersible chamber , known as a 'rehabitat' chamber, that can be moved along the sea floor. Chlorine is pumped into the chamber, and once treatment is complete is removed, making sure no chlorine escapes into the sea."They're actually just like an inflatable bouncy castle. But they're inflated with water, and that allows them to contour to the shape of the seabed," McRae said.The chambers have proven effective in killing caulerpa, but signoff is needed before the 'rehabitat' enclosure can put higher levels of chlorine into actionAnother tool to tackle caulerpa is being developed by Craig Thorburn of Advanced Aquarium technologies. His team is using UV-C light to treat caulerpa."I ended up talking to a chap in the USA, John Pelluccio, in Lake Tahoe. He was using UVC light to manage freshwater plants in Lake Tahoe. So that kind of set us on that journey of looking at is there an application here? No one had tried it in salt water. No one had tried it with a plant like caulerpa."Tests run with the University of Auckland showed UV-C light was effective in killing caulerpa, but then came the complex task of developing a vehicle that could operate on the sea floor."We like to think of it, it's still a bit of a Model T Ford. The frame of it and its workings are still off our original prototypes. We're building another unit in China at the moment that is another step towards something that would be a production model."Both McCrae and Thorburn's projects have received government funding.After bringing Californian experts to New Zealand in 2023, Ngati Manuhiri continue to look offshore for solutions."Having recently attended Aqua Nor in Norway, I saw a lot of technology that I think could be applied in New Zealand," said MacDonald."Those are some of the conversations that I've had with Biosecurity New Zealand, that there's some tech overseas that I think we need to bring here and we really need to get on the job of getting rid of this stuff"But whether caulerpa can be eliminated completely remained unknown."I think the chances of managing it, particularly in our anchorages and our open sandy shellfish habitats are quite high", said Thorburn."I think there's a range of tools now that are available and they're not well practised by any means, but they exist and the knowledge exists to say yes, that could be tackled in response and we didn't have any of those possibilities, three or four years ago. We really would love to acknowledge that incredible leadership shown by iwi and local communities in tackling exotic caulerpa and from my experience, right from the very, very start, iwi have been right at the heart of this response".And with summer beckoning, the message to boaties from MPI remains unchanged."If you're in the top of the North Island, if you pull up seaweed on your gear, on your anchor, on your fishing gear, no matter what it is, no matter where you are, it's really good practice to get into the habit of storing it safely on your boat, in a bag, in a bin, in a bucket, taking it ashore and disposing of it safely,' said Walsh.This story was originally published by RNZ